When the Storm Breaks

by Bonnie Leon

  “Thank you, Callie,” Rebecca said, moving toward the hotel door.

  “Roight fine bein’ back in Queensland, eh?”

  “That it is,” said Rebecca, allowing Daniel to escort her out the door.

  They walked the one flight of stairs down to the main lobby and crossed the room, stepping outside. It was a short walk to the eatery. Rebecca wanted to take her time. She enjoyed every sight and smell, and she especially liked being on Daniel’s arm.

  She took his hand. “I feel like I’m in a dream. It’s so wonderful to be here.”

  Daniel squeezed her hand. “I’m a lucky bloke.” His smile faded as he added, “But we’ve still got troubles, luv. I’ve not been able to pay off Marshal yet.”

  “Oh yes. But I have a surprise for you. I’ve been so giddy I nearly forgot.”

  “What is it?” Daniel asked as they stepped into the restaurant. The smell of roasted chicken and freshly baked bread greeted them.

  “It smells heavenly,” Rebecca said, only now realizing how hungry she was.

  Daniel steered her toward an empty table and pulled out a chair for her. She sat, and he took the seat across from her. “Now, what is the surprise?”

  “I wanted to send you a wire, but there was no time, and then I thought how grand it would be to surprise you.” She reached into her bag and took out the envelope Thomas had given her.

  A waiter approached their table. He handed them each a menu, then stood and waited.

  Rebecca set the envelope on the table while she and Daniel looked over their options. “I think I’ll have the roasted chicken with carrots and some of that delicious bread I smell.”

  The waiter wrote down her choices, then turned to Daniel.

  “Figure I’ll have the steak and potatoes. And make the steak rare, eh?”

  After noting Daniel’s selection, the waiter said, “I’ll have some water brought to the table for you.” He retrieved the menus and walked away.

  Rebecca clasped her hands on the table in front of her and looked about. The room was large, and it looked bright even though darkness had settled over the city outside. There were ample wall lanterns, and a candle lit up each table. A row of windows at the front were draped with green and white curtains. Tablecloths matching the curtains were laid over small tables set with crystal goblets, fine china, and silver flatware.

  “This is very nice,” Rebecca said.

  “They’ve good food too. I’ve eaten ’ere before.” He gazed at Rebecca. “Now, what is this about a surprise?”

  “I have something for you.” Rebecca picked up the envelope and handed it to Daniel.

  He studied it a moment.

  “Open it.”

  He smiled and then slid a finger under the seal, careful to open the envelope without tearing it. He lifted the flap and took out the bank note. After studying it a moment, he turned a questioning look on Rebecca. “What’s this?”

  “A loan. From Thomas. He wants to help.”

  Daniel smiled. “Well, this will help. It’s more than we need.”

  “He wanted to include enough just in case we had other expenditures.”

  Daniel shook his head. “Can’t believe it. I’ve been worrying and praying. Mum kept telling me to believe and to trust, and I just kept worrying. And ’ere you arrive with more money than we need.” He closed his eyes a moment. “I thank the Lord.”

  Rebecca smiled. “He’s answered our prayers. We can clear the debt, and Thomas said he’s in no hurry for us to pay him back.”

  Daniel returned the note to the envelope and placed it in his jacket pocket. “We’ll see Mr. Marshal in the morning.”

  Daniel and Rebecca stepped into Marshal’s front office. The same secretary who had greeted Daniel on his first visit sat at the front desk.

  She looked up. “Mr. Thornton? You don’t have an appointment.”

  “Right. But I’m ’ere in town, and I need to see Mr. Marshal.”

  The secretary clasped her hands in front of her. “He’s busy at the moment.”

  “I can wait.”

  “Well, it could be a long while.”

  “How long?” Rebecca asked.

  “I’m not quite sure, but . . .”

  Voices carried from down the hallway. Soon Marshal and a man nearly wider than he was tall emerged. Marshal glanced at Daniel and, offering his hand to the rotund man, said, “Fine. We’ll meet next week. Good doing business with you, Mr. Jones.”

  With a quick nod, Jones moved to the door and stepped outside.

  Marshal set his gaze on Daniel. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve come to pay my debt.”

  “Bit late for that.” He turned and started down the hall.

  Daniel and Rebecca followed.

  “I’ve got the money. All of it,” Daniel said.

  Marshal didn’t look at him but kept walking. “I don’t want your money.”

  Daniel grabbed his arm. “I said I’ve got your money.”

  Marshal stopped. He looked at Daniel’s hand and lifted it off his arm, then turned a glare on Daniel. “The time for payment is past. I told you—thirty days to vacate. You’ve lost the station, lad. You might as well accept it.”

  Rebecca pressed a hand to her chest. “Lost the station? How can that be? We have the money.”

  Marshal moved his small, hateful eyes to Rebecca. “Your husband signed the station over as collateral. He didn’t make his payments as promised. The station belongs to me.”

  “What about Chavive?”

  “Chavive? Oh, your horse.” Satisfaction touched his eyes. “Sold her.”

  “You what?” Daniel exploded.

  Wearing a satisfied smirk, Marshal continued down the hall and disappeared into his office.

  Rebecca walked as fast as she could and still couldn’t keep up with Daniel.

  “He’ll get his,” Daniel muttered. “He’ll not get away with this.”

  “Daniel. Please. Slow down.”

  He glanced at Rebecca and stopped. Swiping aside a wisp of blond hair, he said, “I’m sorry. All I could think of was to get to the constabulary as fast as I could. My mind is there, not with you.” He circled an arm around her waist. “He won’t do this to us. And we’ll get Chavive back too.”

  At the mention of the mare’s name, Rebecca could feel tears press against the back of her eyes. “How? We don’t even know who has her.” She managed to contain her tears but couldn’t control the quivering of her chin.

  Daniel caressed her cheek. “I don’t know just how, but we will, luv. I promise.” Taking Rebecca’s hand, he moved on, only more slowly this time.

  “I can’t bear the thought that she might be with someone who would mistreat her.”

  “We’ll tell a constable about that too. They’ll see to it that she’s found. You’ll see.”

  “I thought you said that when you spoke to the police before they wouldn’t help you.”

  “Right, but maybe it was just the bloke on duty at the time. Doesn’t hurt to try again.”

  Rebecca wasn’t at all convinced that this visit would turn out any different from the first. According to Daniel, the Brisbane policeman he’d spoken to had made it clear that Marshal was to be obeyed. He bought them, Rebecca thought, unaware that she was clenching her teeth.

  Daniel stopped in front of a brick building. “This is it.” He stared at the windowless front door. A man wearing a smart-looking uniform stood on a small porch. “We’ll get some assistance now,” he said, striding up the steps. The officer nodded and moved aside, allowing them to pass.

  He seems cordial, Rebecca thought, following Daniel inside. Perhaps this time would be different.

  Daniel kept a hold of Rebecca’s hand and led the way to a man sitting behind a desk. “I want to report a murder and a theft.”

  The man lifted his eyebrows. “You better sit.” He nodded at a wooden chair.

  “We’ll stand, thank you.”

  The officer grabbed a pen
and piece of paper. He dipped the pen into ink. “Tell me what happened.”

  Sucking in a deep breath, Daniel began, “Four months ago one of my roustabouts was hanged by thugs hired by Robert Marshal.”

  Rebecca could see an instantaneous change in the officer’s demeanor. He looked aggravated and instead of writing, he set down the pen.

  Daniel pushed on. “Marshal threatened my wife and children and took our best mare, and now he refuses to accept payment for a loan and insists my station belongs to him.”

  The officer clasped his hands together and rested them on the table in front of him. “That’s a ridiculous complaint. Mr. Marshal would never do something like that. You’re mistaken.”

  “Mistaken? I ought to know when a man hangs one of my workers!”

  “I’m sure Mr. Marshal had nothing to do with it. Probably the blokes that hanged him just got carried away and it wasn’t Mr. Marshal’s intention to kill anyone.”

  “I told you—”

  “And I’m telling you I want you to go on your way.” His eyes narrowed. “Robert Marshal is an upstanding businessman in this town, and I don’t like blokes bad-mouthing him.” He stood. “You’d be right smart to go back to where you came from.”

  Daniel looked the man straight in the eyes. “I want to speak to your superior.”

  “I am my superior.” The man smiled maliciously. “Now, on your way.”

  Daniel stared at the man.

  “There’s no help for you ’ere.”

  Rebecca was afraid the officer would get angry enough to arrest Daniel. She took his hand. “Come on. We’ll find another way.”

  Daniel glared at the constable.

  “You best listen to your wife. Seems she’s the intelligent one in the family.”

  Daniel stared at the man a long time, and then he glanced at Rebecca.

  “We’ll find another way,” she repeated.

  “You tell Marshal we’ll settle this and that he’ll wish he’d been reasonable.”

  The constable’s gaze remained fixed, and he folded his arms over his chest.

  Rebecca nudged Daniel, and he finally turned and followed her out.

  When Rebecca stepped off the stagecoach and onto the walkway in front of the Thornton Creek Hotel, elation was the only word appropriate for what she felt. The weariness from travel evaporated. She was home.

  Mr. O’Brien stepped onto the porch in front of his mercantile and waved. “G’day,” he called.

  “Good day, Mr. O’Brien.”

  “Grand ta have ya back.” Wearing a smile, he turned and walked into his store.

  The bank president, Mr. Oxley, wasn’t so friendly. He peered out of the bank window but didn’t wave or smile. A scowl was firmly planted on his face.

  “Don’t figure he’s happy with me. Word’s out about his not giving us a loan. There are some unhappy blokes around town.” Daniel set a suitcase on the wooden sidewalk.

  “I suppose he deserves some criticism.”

  With Audry in her arms, Callie joined Rebecca. The baby whined and squirmed. “I think she’s hungry, mum.”

  “Oh, there’s nowhere for me to feed her right now.” Rebecca rummaged through a travel case. “Perhaps this will satisfy her for now,” she said, taking out a bottle with water in it.

  Callie took the bottle and offered it to Audry, who seemed content with it.

  “Woodman!” Joseph hollered and ran toward the black man.

  Wearing a smile, Woodman hefted the little boy. “Roight fine ta see ya lad.”

  “Right fine ta see ya,” Joseph echoed.

  Woodman carried Joseph back to his parents. “Sorry I’m late. Got held up at the livery.” He gave Daniel a friendly slap on the back. “Grand ta have ya home.”

  “It’s good to see you,” Rebecca told Woodman and spontaneously hugged him. “It’s wonderful to be here.”

  Woodman held Rebecca lightly and quickly let her loose. “Douloo hasn’t been the same without ya, mum.”

  Callie looked beyond Woodman to the street.

  He grinned. “Ya lookin’ for someone?”

  “No. Just lookin’ ’round the town.”

  “Roight. Well, there’s a bloke waitin’ for ya at the house.”

  “Really?” Callie smiled. “He’s waitin’, eh?”

  “That he is.”

  “I suppose we ought to get home,” Daniel said, unable to find any enthusiasm at the reunion.

  “Yer soundin’ a bit down in the mouth,” Woodman said. “Somethin’ wrong?”

  “Marshal’s set on taking the station.”

  “Can he do that?”

  “Figure he can, but I don’t plan to let him.”

  Rev. Cobb stepped out of the hotel. “May the Lord be praised. I heard you were returning.” He smiled broadly. “Grand to see you.” He took Rebecca’s hands in his. “So happy to have you back.”

  “It’s wonderful to be back,” Rebecca said. “And so nice to see you again. I’ve missed you and your uplifting sermons.”

  “I would think with the fine churches to choose from in Boston, you’d not have missed me for a moment.”

  “They’re fine indeed, but I did miss you.”

  “Well, I hope you had a splendid journey.”

  “It was quite nice. The weather was calm most of the way.”

  “I saw a whale,” Joseph said, grasping a post and leaning as far back as he could. “It was big.”

  “A real whale?” The reverend smiled.

  “Right.” Joseph skipped down the sidewalk toward the mercantile.

  “I’d best let you be on your way. I’m sure you’re anxious to get home.” The reverend tipped his hat. “I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.”

  “Of course. But before you go, Daniel and I have something we want to discuss with you.”

  “We need advice,” Daniel said, “and prayer.”

  “Sounds serious.”

  “It is.”

  “Shall we talk at the church? We’ll have privacy there.”

  “Yes.” Rebecca looked at Daniel. “Is that all right with you?”

  “Right.”

  “Callie, can you stay with the children?” Rebecca asked.

  “Yais, mum.”

  Rebecca dug into her purse and took out several coins and handed them to Callie. “Take them to the eatery. Joseph’s probably hungry and thirsty. And please treat yourself as well.”

  “Will they serve me, mum?”

  “If not, maybe you could all eat outdoors?”

  With a nod, Callie called Joseph, and she and the children headed for the café.

  “Woodman, would you load our bags? We won’t be long,” Daniel said.

  “Right,” Woodman said.

  Rebecca and Daniel walked alongside the reverend. Rebecca sensed resolve and determination in Daniel. He’d been downhearted since his meeting with Marshal; it was good to see a bit of spark in him.

  “Rebecca!” someone hollered from down the street. It was Cambria. She ran toward Rebecca, holding her skirts up out of the dirt.

  “Cambria.” Rebecca hurried toward her friend.

  When the two met, they grabbed each other in a tight hug. After a few moments, they stepped back and looked at each other.

  “I can’t believe my eyes,” Cambria said. “I heard ya were coming home, but I was afraid ta believe it until I saw ya.” She hugged Rebecca again. “I’ve missed ya.”

  “And, oh, how I’ve missed you.”

  “I prayed ya’d return soon.”

  “Why are you in town?”

  “I’m helping me aunt with a fitting.”

  Cambria’s aunt Elle walked down the street toward them. As she approached, she said, “Rebecca. Grand ta see ya home at last.” She held her arms out and pulled Rebecca into a sturdy hug and patted her back.

  “You look wonderful,” Rebecca said, looking at Elle’s short blond hair. “What have you done? Have you cut it?”

  Elle’s hand went to he
r hair. “Right. I did. It’s the latest fashion. Do you like it?”

  “Yes. It suits you, but I don’t recall seeing this style before.”

  “I’m sure you haven’t. It’s my latest fashion.” Elle winked. “I got mad one morning and just chopped it off. Everyone was quite shocked.” She grinned. “I did see a cut very much like this in a magazine.”

  “Really?”

  “What, ya don’t believe me?” Elle smiled.

  “Of course I do. And I think it makes you look quite youthful.”

  “Thank ya.”

  “I like it too,” Daniel said.

  “Is that so? I believe yer the first bloke who’s said he likes it.”

  “Like Rebecca said, it suits you.”

  “I like you just the way you are, long hair or short.” Rebecca smiled. “How has business been?”

  “Right fine. And we’re in for a bit of fun, with Cambria’s wedding. She’s been waiting for you to help her decide about her dress.”

  “Yes. I can’t wait.”

  Elle looked at Daniel. “So ya get things sorted out with that Mr. Marshal?”

  “No. We’ve some business to take care of yet.”

  “Let me have a go at him. I’ll set him straight.” She watched a dried bit of weed tumble in the wind, then looked back at Rebecca and Daniel. “’Ere I am blathering on, and ya must be tired. Would ya like ta come in for a bite and something ta drink? I always keep refreshments in the shop with me.”

  “I’d love to,” Rebecca said, “but we’ve got business with the reverend, and then we really must get home.”

  Elle smiled. “Right, then. We’ll have to picnic after church on Sunday, eh?”

  “I’d like that,” Rebecca said.

  “See ya Sunday, then.”

  Once inside the church, the reverend sat on the front pew and waited for Rebecca and Daniel to sit. He clasped his hands, then asked, “What is it you need?”

  “You know the reason Rebecca went to Boston, right?”

  “My understanding is that you wanted her and the children safe in case that man in Brisbane got violent.”

  “Right. But things never got resolved, and . . .” Daniel looked at Rebecca.